Mumford and Sons Video

I just got this album from Mumford and Sons. It's gotten a ton of airplay up here, and although I haven't listened to the whole thing through quite yet, I'm really digging it so far. This song, in particular, is one I've enjoyed a lot. Aside from the music, I like the concept of playing in a bookshop.

In any event, I think this also speaks to the folk/acoustic kick I've been on for a month or so. What I like about this group, is the juxtaposition of the heartfelt lyrics with the harshness of the lead singer's voice. I don't know, I think it makes the music speak a little bit more.

Yeasayer- Odd Blood

Hello All-

Before I get to the quasi-periodic album review, a quick reminder about NPR Music's First Listen Series. Every Monday, they put up entire albums to listen to in their entirety for free before the songs have been released for sale. The only downside to this is that once the album comes out in stores, NPR loses streaming privileges. Recently, they have had as varied artists as Bob Dylan's (The Witmark Demos), Elton John, Sufjan Stevens, Sean Lennon as well as a plethora of groups I was not familar with. Not all the albums are outstanding, or even moderately good, but getting a chance to hear the entire set of songs allows one to avoid getting a cd with a single good song.

And onto the review:

Yeasayer is relatively new band, first recognized at the 2007 SXSW concert. Odd Blood is their second album, more 'pop-y' than their previous work 'All Hour Cymbals' . Their sound is an eclectic mix of rock, synthetic pop, and a handful of world music. The combination can be dense at times, but is acoustically impressive, combining depth with flighty melodies and hooks. Before continuing on, take a listen.

Ambling Alp is a fairly representative song off the album, with an emphasis on the driving percussive beat as well as heavily produced vocals. What makes this album enjoyable is that it functions as an album; a coherent set of songs which connect to make a single forty minute listening experience. Bookended between a gradual warm-up in 'The Children' and an ambient departure in 'Grizelda', the songs are good individually but best as a whole. A quick note when starting 'Odd Blood': Don't turn it off half-way through the first track. Not only does it get better, but 'The Children' serves as a proper prologue before the high energy 'Ambling Alp' starts in.

'Odd Blood' does have a few downsides, especially the lyrics which can be at times generic with a good number of baby's tossed in at regular intervals. However the diversity of sounds more than compensates for the occasional lackluster romantic phrase. The songs build to the penultimate track (opaquely named 'Montegreen') which is fast, repetitive and catchy. Alternating between horns, guitar and a syth, Montegreen sums up the odd sound combinations of the album and then ends, letting the final track dissipate.

The next time we get together (when ever that might be), I will make sure to bring the disk along if any of you would like a listen to the album in its entirety.

-Kris

PS- As my first written music review, I know the writing may not be the best. Thanks for struggling through.

A quick cross post from Aaron:

From Aaron's splendid blog about life in Minnesota as a Law Student:Version

My goal when starting this site was to write something at least weekly, a la Aaron's album of the week feature posted above. If all goes well this evening, something of mine should be posted. -

Kris

Das Rheingold

For something completely different, Amy and I attended a live screening of the Metropolitan Opera's new staging of Wagner's Das Rheingold at the local mall. The Met started last year beaming out around a dozen of its performances to locations, mostly theaters, all around the world. (As an aside, prior to the beginning of the opera, we were warned that dangerous solar storms might interrupt the transmission, which is exactly the kind of technological disaster I learned about at my summer school about solar weather). I had missed all of the performances last year, and decided that I should try to make the effort to see a few shows this season. All in all it was a great experience.

The music was splendid. Not being a Wagner scholar, or even a connoisseur of operatic singing, I don't have much to say about the particulars. It was captivating and epic, everything one would expect a Wagner opera to be. James Levine conducted; his was the only name I recognized from the list of principles.

A downside to this performances: the tickets are $24 dollars. But it is live music, which certain people have told me is costly to put on.

I am planning on going to two more this season: Wagner's second part of his ring cycle Die Walküre in the spring and Adam's Nixon in China this winter. Amy is planning on attending the former but will not be attending the later. Something about modern minimalist opera doesn't agree with her.

Enough for now-Hope you all are listening to interesting things as we scurry about our busy lives. Also, congrats to Aaron on your job. Doesn't it feel good to get paid to work as a professional in the field of your choice?

Later- Kris

made it

ok, i finally got signed in.

just heard bee vs. moth (sp?) on all songs considered. the tune they played was a good cut, so i have a cd on hold and library to check out further. i'll keep you all posted. out.

Sorry, sorry

Just because the Twins are in the playoffs, I couldn't resist posting this.

I mean, it could be a lot worse.

Yeah, my musical explorations have been lacking lately, so you people should tell me more good stuff.

The most original thing I have, I think, is Trampled by Turtles - they're a bluegrass group from Duluth. I think I vaguely played some of it in the car. Anyways, I got to see them live at the MN State Fair, and at least in that context, they were quite mesmerizing. Really virtuosic playing, if you ask me. Their newer album, "Palomino" is more fast-paced stuff. I'd tentatively classify it as "thrash-bluegrass." The other album of theirs I have, "Blue Sky and the Devil," is a little more traditional. I don't know, I enjoy it; I've been getting more and more into roots music, folk, alt-country, that sort of thing.

Right, anyways, I have to read some shit about letters of credit now.

Aaron

Thanks for the inputs and ideas! I already stole a few things and intend on getting a few more!

Always a good time. I have nothing particularly new- just got a great recording of CSO playing Mahler 5 if you want some crazy awesome brass in your face....

Enjoy!
B

Thanks Kris, highly recommend Boards of Canada for a nice adventure into a far and distant land. Ambient, weird, i used to get super strange dreams when listening to them for long periods of time. Music has the right to children is a solid into, but their masterwork is Geodogi (not spelling that right). When I listen to them, I get complex feelings that are really hard to describe. Unfortunately, they get to be my study music most of the time when I listen, totally not doing them justice ( kind of like listening to rage while working out, "but it's so much more than pump-up music!").

Also, Kris the blog is a good idea. And passion pit is good for one song (little secret). Impulse buys suck.

Scholar out,

Michael

Hello All-

We had discussed sending each other updates on music we had listened
to recently. So here starts my list:

(Some) Songs Heard on the Car Trip (Sorry Benjamin)

Rafter- Animal Feelings- Electronic/ Over produced sound. A one man
band who makes some fun songs.

Joanna Newsom- Have On One Me- A three disc album, some of the songs
are great (Good Intentions Paving Co.), others grow on you, while some
are bizarre. Her earlier work is rather far out there, but
interesting. Started as a classical harpist, who later branched into
singing. Micheal commented, correctly I feel, that her voice sounds
similar to Neko Case. (Who was mentioned briefly during the car trip,
as well as her super group, The New Pornographers. The solo work is
good, the group is pop, with mixed reviews from those in the car)

Boards of Canada- Not sure of the Album name (ask Michael) An
interesting ambient album.

I am forgetting several- Passion Pit was listened to, I believe.

And who could forget:
Mark Ronson & The Business International
http://www.markronson.co.uk/us/frontpage

I was pondering a site (blog, what ever you want to call it) where we
all could make quick notes of what we have heard/ purchased, etc. I
know we are all quite busy, but I thought it would be simple enough to
set up, fairly easy to use, and a nice way to keep in touch. Let me
know if you think its a good idea. Or not.

Back to grading papers...

KGK

A Place to Discuss Music.

Hello All-

Thought this would be a nice way to share new things we have been listening to. I believe you all have been invited to be authors on the site, so you should be able to post any thoughts that come your way. At present, the site is open to anyone who can stumble across the URL, but if we like, we can make it visible only to us. Apologies for the name of the site; I just finished grading Quantum and couldn't think of anything creative. Anything, name, layout, whatever, is open to change, especially once I figure out how to let you all be administrators.

Back to our busy lives. The new few posts are a collection of recent e-mails regarding music during the trip-

KGK